Fastener setting machine



Dec. 25, 1962 E. K. HEIL 3,069,688

FASTENER SETTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5O INVENTOR. EDWARD K. H EH.

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ATTGNNE'Y Dec. 25, 1962 E. K. HEIL FASTENER SETTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1961 Fie INVENTOR. EDWARD K. HEI L.

Arram/e'y United States Patent Office 3,069,688 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,069,688 FASTENER SETTlNG MACHINE Edward K. Hell, Southington, Conn, assignor to North & Judd Manufacturing Company, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,308 13 Claims. (Cl. 1-325) This invention concerns apparatus for applying a fastening device, as for example, a metal fastener of the type used on mens and womens apparel, to fabric or the like, and has particular utility with fastener setting machines having a feed mechanism for the metal fastener parts and a fastener applying ram which cooperates therewith to receive a fastener part when it is in a retracted position and to apply the fastener part to the fabric when moved to an extended position.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastener setting machine of the type described which is adaptable for applying a fastener in a number of angularly related positions so that the same machine is readily useful for a number of different fastener setting applications.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved ram assembly for a fastener setting machine of the type described which may be readily installed on the conventional type fastener setting machines now widely used by the industry and which, when incorporated thereon, will enable a single machine to be adaptable for a number of different fastener applications.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ram assembly that can be installed in existing fastener setting machines to receive a metal fastener part from the existing fastener feed mechanism and to thereafter apply the fastener part in the desired angularly disposed position.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view partly broken away and partly in section of a fastener setting machine embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section view partly broken away of the fastener setting machine taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation view partly broken away and partly in section of the fastener setting machine of FIG. 1 showing the ram assembly in a retracted or fastener receiving position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view partly broken away and partly in section showing the ram assembly in the extended or fastener applying position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of mens trousers having hook fasteners of the type which can be applied by the setting machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a section view of one of the hook fasteners of FIG. 5.

Although this invention can be readily used with a number of different types of part applying or setting apparatus, it is shown in the drawings and will be described for use with a fastener setting machine that applies a hook fastener of the type shown in FIG. 6 wherein a U-shaped hook fastener part 5 having a plurality of depending locking tabs or tangs 6 is associated with a backing plate 7 placed on the opposite side of a piece of fabric 8 by upsetting the locking tabs against the backing plate.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fastener setting machine, generally designated by the numeral 10, has a fixed base 12 supporting an upright stanchion 14, and a cam shaft 16 which, in the wellknown manner, is driven by a motor and .reduction gearing that are controlled by suitable means. The cam shaft 16 has operating earns 18, 20 and 22 that are adapted to engage the rollers 24, 26 and 28, respectively, for actuating an anvil 42 by a hammer 40 mounted on a lever 30, for retracting a fastener feed mechanism 35 through a lever 32 and for extending a ram assembly 34 through a ram operating lever 36, respectively.

For selectively feeding the fastener par-ts 5 and '7, the feed mechanism 35 is actuated in the forward or feeding direction by a spring 33 so as to move a stripping rod 62 and a camming rod 64 in the forward direction. This movement of the rod 62 strips a single backing plate 7 from a number of aligned plates in a backing plate chute or magazine 60 and moves it to an assembly position on a working table 38 overlying the anvil 42 and underlying the extended ram assembly 34 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1). The movement of rod 64 earns a single hook part 5 from a number of aligned hook parts in the chute or magazine 50 into a slot formed adjacent the lower surface of carrier or hook holder assembly 52 by an L-shaped support 53 and a springbiased retainer 55.

In the conventional manner, the earns .18, 2t] and 22 in conjunction with a ram return spring 37 and the feed mechanism spring 33, periodically operate the levers 3t), 32 and 36 to feed the fastener parts 5 and 7 onto the carrier 52 and onto the working table 38, respectively; to move the ram assembly 34 from the retracted position, shown in FIG. 3, and in bold lines in FIG. 1, to the extended or fastener applying position shown in FIG. 4 and in phantom in FIG. 1; to actuate the hammer 40 upwardly into engagement with the fastener anvil 4-2 for upsetting or clinching the locking tabs 6 and thereby assemble the fastener parts 5 and 7 upon a piece of fabric or the like; and to retract the feed assembly 35 and the ram assembly 34- prior to the initiation of another fastener applying cycle.

In accordance with this invention, the ram assembly 34 includes an elongated ram 7t? pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 71 to the ram assembly operating lever 36 and rotatably supports a guide roller 72 that is retained between inner and outer guide plates 75 and 77, respectively, and received within a guide slot 74 in a guide member 76. In order that the movement of the ram 70 be substantially perpendicular to the working table 38 when the hook holder assembly 52 is adjacent thereto; and in order that the holder assembly 52 be cleared from the working space above the table 38 and be in alignment with the hook chute 50 for receiving a hook 5 when the ram is in its retracted position; the slot 74 is provided with a lower substantially vertical slot portion 78 and an upper slot portion 80 extending angularly therefrom. For enabling the holder assembly 52 to be properly located in its extended and retracted terminal positions, there is provided an adjustment for the guide 76 with the screws -32 and 84, and an adjustment for the guide roller 72 with the screws 79.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the hook holder assembly 52 comprises a holder body 54 having a rod extension 94 that is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the ram within an adaptor and is axially retained therein as by a snap ring 97'. For retaining the holder assembly 52 on the lower end of the ram 70, the adaptor 9% is adjustably mounted within the lower end of the ram through a threaded engagement therewith and is secured thereto by a lock nut 92. The rod extension 94 is rotatably driven by a shaft 96 as by extending a flattened end of the rod 3 into a central slot in the shaft. A second shaft 98 rotatably mounted in the ram 70 is spaced parallel to the shaft 96 and drives the shaft 9-6 through a pair of replaceable intermeshing gears 1G6 and 102 (FIG. 1), and as these gears are positioned for easy removal, the drive ratio between the shafts 98 and 96 may be conveniently changed. A control member or fulcrum plate 104 is pivotally mounted on the ram '70 by a pin 106 and drives the shaft 98 through the bevel gears 114 and 116 (FIG. 1), and, therefore, oscillatory movement of the fulcrum plate 104 is translated into oscillatory movement of the hook holder assembly 52. Limitation of the oscillation of the plate 104, and, therefore, limitation of the oscillation of the holder assembly 52, is provided by a pair of adjustable stop screws 108 and 11% that are threaded upon the plate 1% and adapted for engagement with a stop pin 112 fixed to the ram 70.

The plate 104 is biased in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, by a tension spring 118 having one end connected to the plate 104 and its other end connected to a pin 12.2 fixed to the upper end of the ram 70 so that, when the ram 70 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 3, the spring 118 creates a sufiicient bias on the plate 164 to rotate it counterclockwise until the stop screw 110 engages the pin 112. When, however, the ram assembly 34 is moved downwardly by the ram operating lever 36, a compression spring 124, pcsitioned between a bracket 126 that is fixed to the stanchion 14 and an adjustable nut 127 that is threaded on a rod 132 connected to the plate 1W3, is adapted to overcome the tension of the spring 118 and rotate the plate 164 clockwise until the stop screw 198 engages the pin 112, as seen in FIG. 4. By adjusting the stop screws 108 and 110, the amount of rotation of the hook holder 52 and its angular positions at its retracted and extended terminal positions can be established. In the embodiment shown, the ram assembly is adjusted to rotate the hook holder 52 90 clockwise as viewed from above the ram; however, this clockwise rotation could be made greater or less as found desirable in a particular fastener application; or, by transposing the spring 118 with the rod 132, bracket 126 and spring 124, the hook holder 52 may be caused to rotate counterclockwise.

The fastener backing plate 7 is, of course, angularly arranged upon the table 38 for cooperation with the angular position of the hook member 5. This may be readily accomplished by installing the backing plate in the chute or magazine 60 with the desired angularity, and ensuring that the stripping rod 62 strips the lower backing plate 7 from the chute and forces it forwardly onto the table 38 Without changing that angularity.

To appreciate the advantages of a fastener setting machine having a ram adapted to locate the fastener in any desired angular position, it should be realized that fasteners of the type for which the setting machine of this invention is particularly useful are used in a variety of applications wherein the angular relationship of the fastener with the adjacent edge of the material varies considerably. Nevertheless, it is desirable to position the material during the hook setting operation for providing the greatest material handling convenience, and this is usually accomplished by inserting the edge of the material adjacent the fastener rearwardly across the working table 38. For example, it has become necessary to install two metal hook fasteners on the extension waistband of men trousers, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the handling of the trousers during the setting of the hook fastener parts is greatly simplified if the upper peripheral edge 139 of the waistband of the trousers is placed facing rearwardly upon the working table; thereby necessitating rotating the hook fasteners 90 counterclockwise, as

viewed from above the setting machine, from their position in the chute 50.

Inasmuch as the ram mechanism of this invention can be readily installed on the conventional fastener setting machine now widely used by the industry, it will enable these machines to be capable of setting certain fastener parts in any one of a number of angularly related positions without necessitating changing their conventional fastener feed mechanism. With this flexibility, the fastener setting machine is then useful for applying fasteners for a large number of different fastener applications while ensuring that the material can be handled during the operation of the machine in the most convenient and economical manner.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for the assembly of a fastener part having outwardly extending tangs, including a magazine for the supply of fastener parts, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a fastener part on the ram, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a fastener part from the magazine to the carrier, means for moving the ram from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported fastener part into its assembly position, and means for clinching the outwardly extending tangs of the assembled fastener part, the improvement comprising; means rotatably supporting the carrier on the ram, and means adapted to move the carrier about its axis of rotation after a fastener part has been transferred thereto whereby the first fastener part has an assembly position angularly disposed from its position within the magazine.

2. In a machine for the assembly of a fastener part, including a magazine for the supply of fastener parts, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a fastener part on the ram, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a fastener part from the magazine to the carrier and means for moving the ram from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported fastener part to its assembly position, the improvement comprising; means rotatably supporting the carrier for movement on the ram, a control member rotatably mounted upon the ram, means connected to the control member and the carrier for translating movement of the control member into movement of the carrier, and means connected to the control member adapted to move it after a fastener part has been transferred thereto whereby the fastener part has an assembly position angularly disposed from its position within the magazine.

3. A fastener setting machine for the assembly of a first fastener part having outwardly extending, fangs with a second fastener part having openings. for receiving the tangs, comprising a first magazine for the supply of first fastener parts, a second magazine for the .supply of second fastener parts, means for transferring a second fastener part from the second magazine into a position for assembly with a first fastener part, an elongated ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a first fastener part rotatably supported on the ram for angular movement about the longitudinal axis thereof, a control member rotatably mounted upon the ram, means translating movement of the control member into movement of the carrier, adjustable stop means limiting the movement of the carrier in at least one angular direction, spring means urging the carrier in a first angular direction, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a first fastener part from the first magazine to the carrier, means for moving the ram from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported first fastener part into assembly with a transferred second fastener part, means connected to the control member moving the carrier in a second angular direction upon move ment of the ram between its retracted and extended positions, and means for clinch: g the outwardly extending tangs when the fastener parts are assembled.

4. in a machine for th as :lbly of a fastener part, including a magazine for the supply of fastener parts, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a fastener part on the ram, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a fastener part from the magazine to the carrier, and means for moving the rain from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported fastener part into its assembly position, the improvement comprising; means rotatably supporting the carrier upon the ram, a control member pivotally supported upon the ram, means connected to the control member and the carrier for translating movement of the control member into movement of the carrier, adjustable stop means for limiting the movement of the carrier in at least one angular direction, first spring means urging the carrier in one angular direction, and second spring means connected to the control member overcoming said first spring means and moving the carrier in the other angular direction upon movement of the ram between its retracted and extended positions.

5. A fastener setting machine for the assembly of a fastener part having outwardly extending tangs, comprising a magazine for the supply of fastener parts, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a fastener part rotatably mounted on the ram, 2. control member pivotally mounted upon the ram, means including a pair of mating gears connecting the control member and the carrier and translating movement of the control member into movement of the carrier, a spring urging the carrier to move in one angular direction, means connected to the control member adapted to move the carrier in the opposite angular direction, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a fastener part from the magazine to the carrier, means for moving the ram from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported fastener part into its assembly position, and means for clinching the outwardly extending tangs of the assembled fastener.

6. in a machine for the assembly of a first fastener part having outwardly extending fangs with a second fastener part having openings for receivirw the tangs, including a first magazine for the supply of first fastener parts, a second ma azine for the supply of second fastener parts, means for transferring a second fastener part from the second magazine into a position for assembly with a first fastener part, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a first fastener part on the ram, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring a first fastener part from the first magazine to the carrier, means for moving the ram from its retracted position to an extended position for moving a carrier supported first fastener part into assembly with a transferred second fastener part, and means for clinching the outwardly extending tangs when the fastener parts are assembled, the improvement comprising; means rotatably supporting the carrier upon the ram, and means moving the carrier about its axis of rotation during movement of the ram between its retracted and extended positions, said latter means including a pair of replaceable interrneshing gears.

7. A machine for the assembly of a part, comprising a magazine for the supply of the parts, a ram having a retracted position, a carrier for a part rotatably mounted on the ram, means when the ram is in its retracted position for transferring one of the parts from the mag zine to the carrier, means for moving the ram from its retracted position to extended position for moving a carrier supported part into its assembly position, and means adapted to move the carrier about its axis of rotation subsequent to the transfer of one of the parts to the carrier.

8. The machine defined in claim 7 further comprising adjustable stop means limiting the movement of the carriot in at least one angular direction.

9. For use in a fastener setting machine, a ram assembly comprising an elongated ram member, a fastener holder rotatably mounted adjacent one end of the ram member for movement about the longitudinal axis thereof, a control member rotatabiy mounted upon the ram member, means connected to the control member and the fastener holder for translating movement of the control member into movement of the holder, and means connected to the control member adapted to move the holder in at least one angular direction.

10. For use in a fastener setting machine, a ram assembly comprising an elongated ram mem er, a fastener holder rotatably mounted at one end of the ram member for movement about the longitudinal axis thereof, a control member rotatably mounted on the ram member, means including a pair of intermeshing gears connecting the control member and the fastener holder and translating movement of the control member into movement of the holder, adjustable stop means limiting the movement of the fastener holder in at least one angular direction, and means adapted to move the control member.

11. A machine for the assembly of a fastener part having projecting fangs, comprising a magazine for the supply of fastener parts, a ram having a carrier for a fastener part, means for transferring a fastener part from the magazine into a first position in the carrier, means for moving the ram to move a carrier-supported fastener part into its assembly position, means for shifting the carrier-supported fastener part prior to assembly into a second position angularly displaced from its said first position and means for clinching the projecting tangs of the assembled fastener part.

12. A machine for the assembly of a fastener part comprising a magazine for supplying the parts, a ram having a carrier for holding the parts, said carrier being mounted for rotation relative to the ram, means for transferring the parts of the magazine to the carrier, means for moving the ram to a position for moving the carrier-supported parts into assembly position, and means adapted to rotate the carrier relative to the ram for shifting the angular position of the carrier-supported parts prior to assembly.

13. For use in a fastener-assembling machine, a ram assembly comprising a ram member, a fastener holder mounted to the ram member for rotatable movement relative to the ram member, said ram member having a retracted position for supplying the holder with fasteners and an extended position for positioning a fastener for assembly, and means responsive to movement of the ram member to its extended position for rotating the holder relative to the ram member whereby a fastener is angularly displaced into a predetermined position prior to assembly.

No references cited. 

